Speaking to a divided Congress, President Trump made the same claim dozens of presidents have made before him: “The state of our union is stronger than ever before.”
In regard to the economy, Trump is right: Unemployment is down, the markets are stable, and manufacturing industries in struggling regions are booming. These are great accomplishments, and they have certainly contributed to Trump’s “great American comeback.”
But there’s much more to a country than its economy. The United States is facing unprecedented levels of political polarization and disillusionment, and recent political events have exacerbated these problems. The Democrats’ impeachment efforts have further divided the country. Public opinion remains split down the middle on what to do about Trump.
Apathy, too, plagues the public. A record number of voters admitted last year that they’re fed up with government and that they distrust their elected officials. So, they’ve chosen to tune out, instead. The low voter turnout in Iowa’s caucuses confirms that this problem has worsened.
Trump can hardly be held responsible. If anything, he’s a symptom of the problem rather than its cause, and he has every right to tout his administration’s many successes, but division is a real problem that is not going to go away, no matter how many jobs Trump creates.
Polarization is a problem with few solutions, and it’s unlikely Trump has one. Then again, who does?
At this point, Trump’s strategy should be damage control: He might not be the bridge that will unite the two sides of the country, but he should defer to prudence, hold his tongue, and minimize the chaos his words so often inspire.
The U.S. is in good shape. Our economy is competitive, our military has been rebuilt, and individuals have more autonomy today than in years past, but there is still more work to be done.
